Vintage Metric Tools?
- Thread starter Bull
- Start date
mtkst19
Well-known member
plomb- 1948 atleast http://plombtools.com/Metric.aspx
i would think after the war when troops came home, along w/ all the skilled german craftsman as well as scientists, is when the influx of mm tools hit.
i would think after the war when troops came home, along w/ all the skilled german craftsman as well as scientists, is when the influx of mm tools hit.
I have quite a few Snap-On metric sockets and wrenches
from the mid '50's that I still use almost every time I'm in the garage (http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=27347).
Available earlier than that '55, but I'm not sure exactly when. '53 catalog shows metric, (http://www.collectingsnapon.com/catalogs/Catalog U.html) '50 catalog does not.
from the mid '50's that I still use almost every time I'm in the garage (http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=27347).
Available earlier than that '55, but I'm not sure exactly when. '53 catalog shows metric, (http://www.collectingsnapon.com/catalogs/Catalog U.html) '50 catalog does not.
If the other vintage US brands began making metric at around the same time as these two companies, then I find it interesting that there is so very little metric to be had at flea markets and wherever else large numbers of vintage tools are sold. I find very little metric in my vintage hunts.
Metric was probably just a tiny fraction of the sales in the early '50's, so it's not that surprising little comes up for resale.
Ok, so this begs the additional question: in what decade did metric sales achieve parity with SAE sales?
dieseldodge01
Well-known member
I know I have seen some New Britain, Husky and Blackhawk catalogs selling metric sockets and wrenches in the 60s. I have a later set of New Britains ranging from 7-15 and a 17.
the old guys at the shop have 'dual' metrics
anything over 1"~ came marked with the metric equivalent, if you believe its good enough to use a 1-1/4 on a 32mm,,, which, generally it is. it just rubs me the wrong way.
then SO/Mac realized they couldnt sell metric if they were telling everyone it was the same anyways after a point. (more relevant to working with big ****)
could explain some lack of flea market metric?
anything over 1"~ came marked with the metric equivalent, if you believe its good enough to use a 1-1/4 on a 32mm,,, which, generally it is. it just rubs me the wrong way.
then SO/Mac realized they couldnt sell metric if they were telling everyone it was the same anyways after a point. (more relevant to working with big ****)
could explain some lack of flea market metric?
jwitt
Well-known member
I have this old Indestro set, the only metric one I've ever seen. It is stenciled USAF so it that would make it after WWII but it was stenciled after it had a lot of wear on it.
Jim
Jim
sawatch
Well-known member
I read an article about how the WWII GIs came back from the war and brought the MG with them, calling it the first "sportscar" in the US. I'd think the demand for metric tools spiked then too.
Mickey O
Well-known member
I've got a lot of 70's, 80's metric and my oldest is Indestro and Craftsman, I'm guessing 60's.
The early US made metric may have been primarily aimed at export markets. I doubt there was much domestic demand until metric vehicles started showing up in quantity. I'm gonna guess the VW Bug and Jap motorcycles were the first.
The UK car companies didn't start migrating to metric until the '70s. Into the '80s UK cars with SAE drivetrains were common. If anything the earliest MGs imported to the States may have had some BS fasteners. IIRC the UK car co's switched from BS to SAE in the '50s.
What about the light aircraft industry? I bought some of my mid 1950's Snap-On metrics from a retired A&P mechanic who was the purchased them new.
Are the airframes on older Cessna's, Pipers, Beechcraft, etc and the early piston/prop aircraft engines like Lycoming (I think mostly designed in the early '50's) SAE or metric?
I'm sure there were also some euro airframe and engine builders with a fairly strong post-war US presence as well.
Are the airframes on older Cessna's, Pipers, Beechcraft, etc and the early piston/prop aircraft engines like Lycoming (I think mostly designed in the early '50's) SAE or metric?
I'm sure there were also some euro airframe and engine builders with a fairly strong post-war US presence as well.
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1939 Snap-On "Catalog N"
Just for grins...
Double Box-end Wrench, 30/32.
X3032 in 1939: $2.95.
Adjusted for inflation: $45
Current price for XBM3032A: $111
10mm Combination Wrench:
OEX10M in 1939: $0.70
Adjusted for inflation: $10.80
Current price for OEXM10B: $25.50
1/2" drive 27mm Socket
SW27M in 1939: $0.90
Adjusted for inflation: $13.88
Current price for SWM271 $26.50
Even after adjusting for the (huge) inflation, SO is 2x-2.5x as expensive as it was back then!
Just for grins...
Double Box-end Wrench, 30/32.
X3032 in 1939: $2.95.
Adjusted for inflation: $45
Current price for XBM3032A: $111
10mm Combination Wrench:
OEX10M in 1939: $0.70
Adjusted for inflation: $10.80
Current price for OEXM10B: $25.50
1/2" drive 27mm Socket
SW27M in 1939: $0.90
Adjusted for inflation: $13.88
Current price for SWM271 $26.50
Even after adjusting for the (huge) inflation, SO is 2x-2.5x as expensive as it was back then!
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Lump
Well-known member
Hey Bull, I sent you a PM. Did u get it okay?
lauver
Well-known member
Bull,
I think widespread metric tool availability coincided with the sale of Japanese and European (not British) cars and motorcycles in the U.S. market. This would have started in the early 1960's and really taken off in the 1970's.
If you look at the old Sears/Craftsman catalogs as a guideline for metric tool introduction into the consumer market, you can see the trend unfolding:
1959: metric tools first introduced in small, limited sets of 1/4" and 1/2" sockets, drive tools, and DOE and DBE wrenches.
1964: 3/8" metric socket sets were added to the previous offerings above.
1969: metric hex keys and combo wrenches were added to the lineup. Individual metric sockets and wrenches were added to open stock in addition to previous tool set offerings above.
Although metric tools were available much earlier in the automotive trade and industrial tool markets, I'm guessing that they were not sold in large quantities until the 1960's, paralleling what was going on in the consumer market.
This would explain the absence or scarcity of metric tools among vintage tools, say pre-1980.
Your thoughts?
I think widespread metric tool availability coincided with the sale of Japanese and European (not British) cars and motorcycles in the U.S. market. This would have started in the early 1960's and really taken off in the 1970's.
If you look at the old Sears/Craftsman catalogs as a guideline for metric tool introduction into the consumer market, you can see the trend unfolding:
1959: metric tools first introduced in small, limited sets of 1/4" and 1/2" sockets, drive tools, and DOE and DBE wrenches.
1964: 3/8" metric socket sets were added to the previous offerings above.
1969: metric hex keys and combo wrenches were added to the lineup. Individual metric sockets and wrenches were added to open stock in addition to previous tool set offerings above.
Although metric tools were available much earlier in the automotive trade and industrial tool markets, I'm guessing that they were not sold in large quantities until the 1960's, paralleling what was going on in the consumer market.
This would explain the absence or scarcity of metric tools among vintage tools, say pre-1980.
Your thoughts?
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